Lancia Montecarlo...37 years and counting
Discussion
Back in the 80s, I had a much loved black Montecarlo Cabrio Mk 2. Being a Mk 2 it had no brake servo (so did not easily lock up its front wheels), but I did upgrade to Tarox discs which improved braking performance, but only slightly.
One mod I did, which was essential, was to modify the pedal assembly to give enough space to avoid my size 9s hitting two pedals at a time. It involved removing the pedal box (a bit of a hassle admittedly) and then clamping same in a vice whilst bending the pedals outwards so they just fitted in the footwell with the pedals “doglegged” to keep them parallel – crude but effective. I was factory trained in the motor industry, but a reasonably competent garage mechanic should be able to do it.
Another improvement was to use (a thinner) fully synthetic gear oil in the gearbox; it dramatically improved the gearchange, although transmission noise increased slightly.
nb. A decade earlier I had a Mk 3 Fulvia, which was really sweet if a bit underpowered.
One mod I did, which was essential, was to modify the pedal assembly to give enough space to avoid my size 9s hitting two pedals at a time. It involved removing the pedal box (a bit of a hassle admittedly) and then clamping same in a vice whilst bending the pedals outwards so they just fitted in the footwell with the pedals “doglegged” to keep them parallel – crude but effective. I was factory trained in the motor industry, but a reasonably competent garage mechanic should be able to do it.
Another improvement was to use (a thinner) fully synthetic gear oil in the gearbox; it dramatically improved the gearchange, although transmission noise increased slightly.
nb. A decade earlier I had a Mk 3 Fulvia, which was really sweet if a bit underpowered.
This RHD '77 Montecarlo looks fantastic, it's been for sale on c&c before I think....
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
overunder12g said:
I had one of these. The local Lanciaa dealer said they had a Lancia tech doing some training and could they borrow my car for a free service
Whe I got it back it really flew. Apparently the tech had said to ignore factory seettings and showed them different timing settings etc.Did nt acctually what thhey were though.
one problem, apart from front brakes was water ingress via engine cover. Lovely car though..
That’s interesting and something else for me to think about...Whe I got it back it really flew. Apparently the tech had said to ignore factory seettings and showed them different timing settings etc.Did nt acctually what thhey were though.
one problem, apart from front brakes was water ingress via engine cover. Lovely car though..
AW111 said:
CallThatMusic said:
Breadvan72 said:
How about a video, OP? Where are you based? I could bring my Beta and./or my Fiat 124 for a 70s/80s Italocool photoshoot.
Well that’s an interesting idea.I’m in the Edinburgh area, bit far for a run out.
Would require a bit of planning, but not impossible.
Will period dress be required?
I can still get into my socks from the 70’s.
Not that sort of 70's movie.
These are the only 70’s movies I like.
And Jaws.
Gonna need a bigger boat.
gforceg said:
Breadvan72 said:
I admit that I do not like the wires. I would prefer the original wheels or some Beta Cromodoras or similar, but it is of course YOUR car, OP.
Just to be sure I'm on the right page, are these the Cromodoras you mention? They're very smart.
OP for something less original I think these look great.
[thumb]https://d3lp4xedbqa8a5.cloudfront.net/imagegen/cr/340/255/s3/digital-cougar-
assets/tradeuniquecars/2018/11/23/176745/Lancia-Beta-MonteCarlo.jpg[/thumb]
I like the wheels on both but the red car has the wheels I want.
Lovely.
v8wrinkly said:
Back in the 80s, I had a much loved black Montecarlo Cabrio Mk 2. Being a Mk 2 it had no brake servo (so did not easily lock up its front wheels), but I did upgrade to Tarox discs which improved braking performance, but only slightly.
One mod I did, which was essential, was to modify the pedal assembly to give enough space to avoid my size 9s hitting two pedals at a time. It involved removing the pedal box (a bit of a hassle admittedly) and then clamping same in a vice whilst bending the pedals outwards so they just fitted in the footwell with the pedals “doglegged” to keep them parallel – crude but effective. I was factory trained in the motor industry, but a reasonably competent garage mechanic should be able to do it.
Another improvement was to use (a thinner) fully synthetic gear oil in the gearbox; it dramatically improved the gearchange, although transmission noise increased slightly.
nb. A decade earlier I had a Mk 3 Fulvia, which was really sweet if a bit underpowered.
I’ve heard of the Tarox solution but didn’t pursue it.One mod I did, which was essential, was to modify the pedal assembly to give enough space to avoid my size 9s hitting two pedals at a time. It involved removing the pedal box (a bit of a hassle admittedly) and then clamping same in a vice whilst bending the pedals outwards so they just fitted in the footwell with the pedals “doglegged” to keep them parallel – crude but effective. I was factory trained in the motor industry, but a reasonably competent garage mechanic should be able to do it.
Another improvement was to use (a thinner) fully synthetic gear oil in the gearbox; it dramatically improved the gearchange, although transmission noise increased slightly.
nb. A decade earlier I had a Mk 3 Fulvia, which was really sweet if a bit underpowered.
I’ve got quite small feet so not an issue for me.
P5BNij said:
This RHD '77 Montecarlo looks fantastic, it's been for sale on c&c before I think....
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
Yes this was up on PH I think last summer.https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
Can’t recall the price.
I like these...
A family friend had a new one when I was a kid, (& Betas)...nice original factory horn tone. A blue one of sorts featured in at least one Herbie movie. My mother had 2 x Fiat X1/19's.
Not taking credit for info but brief research online indicates later cars had larger Beta HPE alloys.
I have been on forums long enough to know not to make insulting comments about rim choices.
Thanks for sharing
A family friend had a new one when I was a kid, (& Betas)...nice original factory horn tone. A blue one of sorts featured in at least one Herbie movie. My mother had 2 x Fiat X1/19's.
Not taking credit for info but brief research online indicates later cars had larger Beta HPE alloys.
I have been on forums long enough to know not to make insulting comments about rim choices.
Thanks for sharing
gforceg said:
Breadvan72 said:
I admit that I do not like the wires. I would prefer the original wheels or some Beta Cromodoras or similar, but it is of course YOUR car, OP.
Just to be sure I'm on the right page, are these the Cromodoras you mention? They're very smart.OP for something less original I think these look great.
P5BNij said:
This RHD '77 Montecarlo looks fantastic, it's been for sale on c&c before I think....
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
V good, but black numberplates on a R reg car from 1977 are just plain wrong, and I do not care that the historically ignorant DVLA allows it. People who are into historical cars ought, I suggest, to have a sense of history, even though the DVLA does not.https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
AMGSee55 said:
gforceg said:
Breadvan72 said:
I admit that I do not like the wires. I would prefer the original wheels or some Beta Cromodoras or similar, but it is of course YOUR car, OP.
Just to be sure I'm on the right page, are these the Cromodoras you mention? They're very smart.OP for something less original I think these look great.
Breadvan72 said:
P5BNij said:
This RHD '77 Montecarlo looks fantastic, it's been for sale on c&c before I think....
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
V good, but black numberplates on a R reg car from 1977 are just plain wrong, and I do not care that the historically ignorant DVLA allows it. People who are into historical cars ought, I suggest, to have a sense of history, even though the DVLA does not.https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C816657
Random Montecarlo pic to get back on track....
gforceg said:
AMGSee55 said:
gforceg said:
Breadvan72 said:
I admit that I do not like the wires. I would prefer the original wheels or some Beta Cromodoras or similar, but it is of course YOUR car, OP.
Just to be sure I'm on the right page, are these the Cromodoras you mention? They're very smart.OP for something less original I think these look great.
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